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Mapping Pathways is a multi-national project to develop and nurture a research-driven, community-led global understanding of the emerging evidence base around the adoption of antiretroviral-based prevention strategies to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The evidence base is more than results from clinical trials - it must include stakeholder and community perspectives as well.

09 September 2011

Calling all our Indian Readers!

We request all Indian readers to take a few moments and read the facts below:

FACT: HIV prevalence in India is only about 0.3% – however, because of its massive population, India has the world’s third-largest population suffering from HIV/AIDS.

FACT: A fractional increase in prevalence (0.1%) would mean over half a million more people living with HIV.

FACT: While new HIV infections have declined drastically in India over the last 10 years, it’s not time to celebrate quite just yet – about 2.4 million Indians are still living with HIV.

FACT: At present, India spends about 5% of its health budget on HIV/AIDS. The World Bank has stated that India will have to scale up prevention efforts in order to avoid spending more of its health budget in the future.

India stands at a critical juncture in its fight against HIV/AIDS. Policy and funding decisions about treatment and prevention over the next few years could alter the entire course of this epidemic.

The Mapping Pathways project has recently launched on online survey to collect input from individuals in our target countries – one of which is India.

Mapping Pathways by Email

The evidence base is more than P-values and confidence intervals

There is a clear and pressing need to engage policymakers and community stakeholders in the consideration of treatment and prevention options for HIV/AIDS.

This necessity has grown stronger in light of current research showing extraordinary promise of using antiretroviral (ARV) therapies for the prevention of HIV. These ARV-based strategies include a ‘treatment as prevention’ model known as TLC+ (testing, linkage to care, plus treatment) as well as vaginal and rectal microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Mapping Pathways includes a thorough review of the social, economic and clinical impacts of treatment as prevention and TLC+, as well as microbicides, PrEP, and post-exposure prophylaxis, in the contexts of South Africa, India and the United States. Participation and engagement is at the heart of the study, and stakeholder input across the community, research, policy and governmental spheres will be a core focus in all three countries.

The project’s aim is to provide the research and analysis that communities and policymakers need in order to formulate coherent, evidence-based decisions for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention strategies in the 21st century.

Mapping Pathways firmly believes that the evidence base is comprised of more than scientific data derived from clinical research – it is more than P-values and confidence intervals. The perspectives, experiences, and collective wisdom of community members and key stakeholders must be valued as much as statistically significant trial results.